Method for collecting sound



Nov. 15, 1932. E. H. HANSEN METHOD FOR COLLECTING SOUND Filed Aug. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15, 1932. E H. HANSEN METHOD FOR COLLECTING SOUND Filed Aug. 1s, 1.930

2 Sheets-Sheet g p.;.e..ed No .15,1932 I a I 1,337, 37

UNITED STATES; PATENT oFFicE EDMUND H. HANSEN, OF HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA METHOD FOR COLLECTING SOUND Application filed August 18, 1930. Serial No. 475,964.

) I The present invention relates to a method In the drawings Figure 1 is aside eleva- I for collecting sound, as by a microphone, for tion of the device with a portion of the boom such uses for example as the recording of broken away interiorly to show that the boom sound with motion pictures. The object is to proper may be, as it ordinarily is, longer procollect such sound advantageously, and effecportionately than as illustrated;

tively under conditions wherein the sound to F ig. 2 is a plan sectionof the base as on the be collected emanates successively from difline 22 of Fig. 1;

ferent places in the setting or scene. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail The invention may be used by means of a partly in section of-any one of the casters and 10 microphone supporting device which will perassociated parts mit the easy and rapid moving about of the. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of microphone to maintain it in close associathe outer end of one of the base pipe sections; tion with the respective sound sources during Fig, 5 1s an enlarged perspective of the the time of use. The microphone will prefconstruction directly supporting the boom;

15 erably be brought to a place over the heads Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective of the of musicians, actors, etc., being photodevice for holding the strut member adjustgraphed in a setting or scene, and moved about ably; and maintained in close relation to the actors Fig. 7 shows fragments of the parts of Fig. as they move about, or as the sound to be col- 5 partly in section;

lected emanates from different parts of the Fig. 8is a fragmentary enlarged side elevascene, with the microphone and its supporting tion of the middle portion of parts of the devices outside the picture camera range. base; I By picture camera range in this connection I Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom view of the mean that effective range defined by the apparts of Fig. 8; and 5 erture plate in the camera and which limits Fig. 10 is a detail'sectionofone of the lockthe size and shape of the picture on the film. ing devices on line 1010 of Fig. 9. A highly efficient form and character ,of a The microphone proper is marked 15a in device for carrying out the presentinvention Flg. 1. I It is mounted to tilt on the hollow is shown herein. It is of such reasonably body 156 containing electrical apparatus op-, light weight and is otherwise soconstructederatively associated with the microphone that it may be moved about conveniently on proper. For present purposes I will conthe studio floor orout in1-tl1e field lIt may also sider this unit as a whole, namely 15a .and be transported easily from 'place' to place in 156, and marked 15, as themicrophon-e. disassembled, collapsed-or knockdown condi- The base of the device may be of various 35 tion, which is of notable importancewhen it forms and constructions, and will ordinarily is considered that in making motion pictures be mounted on three equally spaced-apart away from the .-'.stu c lio; or on location, the wheels as 16, of the caster type,- to enable the various apparatushecessary for-the recordde v1ce to be moved about easily, the wheels ing-0f both the picture and the 'soundmust being of such substantial diameter as will 40 frequently be transported through woods; provide freedom 'of movement over the ob- 99 over streams, among rocky'fastnesses, etc., by structions ordinarily encountered. human labor, on mule back, by canoes, etc.,the I have shown the base 17 in a form enconditions often being most severe. Light. abling it to be collapsed or folded into smaller ness, "strength, durability under rough'treatcompass for transportation. There is a subment, and a high degree of portability, to stantially triangular plate 20, which may be gether with the'tidvantages-of rapid and easy of: sheet steel. Centrally on this is a fixture control by the operator are the important 21, which may be a casting. .Fixture 21 is features and objects of the present device; riveted to plate 20 and has three radially- Other objects" and advantages will appear extending notches 22, 23 and 24. Into these 50 hereinafter. notches respectively extend the flattened ends of ipe sections 25, 26 and 27 respectively, amfrivets 28, 29 and 30 hold these pipe sections in place. Note that a riveted U-shaped strap 31 around pipe section 25 holds that pipe section against movement relative to plate 20. The other two pipe sections may swing on their respective rivets so as to 00- cupy their dotted-line positions in Fig. 2.

Plate 20 is marginally provided with two locking devices for the pipe sections 26 and 27 respectively, and which hold these sect-ions in their radially-directed positions shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show one of these locking devices. A strap 32 is formed to fit around the pipe section 26 or 27 and is welded to plate 20. The swiveled bolt v33 swings up-.

ward into notch 34 (Fig. 9) and the wing nut 33a holds the section 26 or 27 clamped tightly yet readily releasably in place. Note that the strap 32 is formed to provide a slightly restricted opening through which the pipe section must pass to and from its seat. The springiness of strap 32 thus holds the pipe section in place tentatively while the olt 33 is being tightened.

The outer ends of the pipe sections 25, 26 and 27 are flattened (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) and vertically bored to accommodate the caster siem 35 provided with a ball bearing device 3 Near the outer end of each pipe section 25, 26, and 27 a lug 38 is welded (Fig. 4) and then slotted at 39 to provide a yoke to receive the flattened end of a supporting pipe section 40. There are three of these sections 40, one for each section 25,26 and 27.

g A stud 41 is secured so as to upstand centrally on plate 20. On stud 41 a vertical pipe section 42 telescopes removably. A vertical pipe section 43 telescopes over'section 42 and a clamping screw 44 holds these two sections together for ready separability. A threepronged spider 44 is welded to section 43 and to the prongs of the spider are pivoted pairs of strap-iron connection pieces 45a and'45b.

Betweenthe short pipe sections which are swiveled to the lugs 38 (Fig. 1) at the bottom and the bracing members a and 456 at the top there are pipe sections 46 which are rigidly secured to the parts 45a and 456 as by welding. The pipe sections 46 telescope into the sections 40 respectively and the clamping thumb screw at 47 holds each section 46 firmly yet releasably to the associated socket section 40.

According to the description thus far there is a rigid base in triangular form, the same being mounted on three wheels of the caster type, the base being substantially wide, being collapsible for transportation and storage, having a central upstanding stem, and bracing members extending therefrom to the mar- 'nal portions of the base. It is a skeleton a-mework which is light. and strong and capable of being put into small compass.

Telescoping into the upper end of the ver tical tube section 43 is a vertical tube section 50. The clamping screw at 51 holds these two pipe sections together firmly yet releasably. If screw 51 be released the tube 50 may turn in tube 43. Tube 50 may be held at various elevations by means of the screw at 51 also.

Telescoping downwardly into the top of tube 50 is a tube or rod 52 held in any given position of vertical adjustment by means of the clamping screw 53 on tube 50. Carried rigidly by the upright 52 is a hollow rectangular frame 54.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 this frame 54 has extending through it a shaft 55 which has a reduced portion 55a, a further reduced portion 55b and a still further reduced portion 550, and at the outer end of the latter is a collar 56; so secured to it as to prevent the shaft from being withdrawn. Screw threads at57 thread into the lug 58 which has a counterpart 58a, and through which the shaft also passes. These lugs 58 and 58a are spaced apart and are secured as by welding to a split pipe section or strap 59 surrounding the boom 60.

Fig. 7 shows that by turning the hand wheel 61 on shaft '55 in one direction the boom 60 will be clamped so that it may not move longitudinally, and that by turning the hand wheel 61 in the opposite direction the boom will be released for such longitudinal movement through the strap 59. It is also apparent that the boom may at all times tilt in vertical planes through its swinging sus ension by the rocking shaft 55.

everting to Fig. 1, the dotted line at 63 indicates meeting ends of tube sections 42 and 50. ,With the clamping screw at 51 released the boom may swing in horizontal planes in any tilted position, the bearing being at 63.

At the rearward end portion of boom 60 is a split pipe section or clamping sleeve 64 controlled by the wheeled clamping screw at 65. Pivoted on that clamping screw is a strut rod or member 66 which is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6. The rod or strut member 66 is held tightly (Fig. 6) by the eye member 67 through which rod 66 passes.

The eye member 67 terminates in a bolt 68 wheel 69. There is a sleeve on this bolt 68 and the construction is such that when the hand Wheel is tightened on the sleeve 70 the rod 66 is clamped against the vertical wall 70a of the frame having a top wall 70?) and a bottom wall 700. By loosening the hand wheel 69 the rod 66 is released. This construction forms a sort of swivel connection since the angular relation of the rod is permitted to vary thereby. The parts 70?) and 700 of the frame are welded to a split sleeve carrying two lugs 76 and 77 welded thereto, and the clamping screw 78 threaded 'propriate in most instances.

would rest on the top of pipe 43 and permit,

the boom to swing in horizontal planes. What I have just described is another method for seating pipe for horizontal swinging movements of the boom, while also showing that pipe50 may be raised to elevate the boom proper. Ordinarily the raising or lowering of the upper section 52 will meet all requirements for vertical elevation of the boom at the mast. I

The boom proper is long and slender and is preferably as light as may be feasible. Inmy practice it is a piece of metal tubing. A length of about fifteen feet will be found ap- I show means for extending it somewhat, namely the extensible section a which telescopes into the forward end of the main section 60. A set screw at 82 will hold the section 60a at any degree of extension.

I have shown the microphone 15 as being suspended 'by a yoke or frame 84 from a grooved wheel 85 adapted to travel on the upper surface of the boom. At the end of section 60a is a grooved wheel or sheave 86. A cord 87 secured at 88 to the frame 84 and passing over sheave '86 and then passing back over a pair of pulleys at 89 (Figs. 1, 5 and 7 enables the operator to move the microphone back and forth along the boom by drawing on one or the other section of the cord. Having positioned the microphone as desired he can make it secure by fastening the free ends of the cord to any convenient part of the construction.

The boom 60 contains several hooks or loops 90 through which the conductor cable 91 leads from the microphone back to the mast where there is a similar hook or eye 92.

A counterweight 95 is secured upon the end of the boom extending rearward from the mast. This counterweight will be such as to render the boom and microphone held thereby fairly well balanced.

During the operation of the device theop I erator is constantly desiring to move the microphone both as to elevation and in lateral The forward end of the boom is always freely swinging in vertical planes except for the strut member 66 which holds it in any given position of vertical adjustment. Should the operator desire merely to raise and lower the boom he could do so by releasing the hand wheel 69 (Fi 6) and then moving the rear end of the boom down or up, the' strut 66 sliding back and forth through the eye 67 shown in Fig. 6. Having placed the microphone at the desired elevation hand wheel 69 (Fig. 6) is tightened. The operator usually desires to swing the boom around as well as to elevate or lower its outer end, so ordinarily he will release the hand wheel at 51 (Fig. 1) as well as the hand wheel 69 (Fig. 6) as these operations free the boom for both vertical tilting and horizontal swinging. I

It will be perceived that the operator is thus enabled to place the microphone as desired with a slight amount of effort, and in a very short time. He usually has his left hand on the rear end of the boom while with his right hand he manipulates the several "controls, such as the hand wheels 51 and 69.

When it is desired to take the device down for transportation orstorage the connection 64 at the left hand end of the boom in Fig. 1

can be slipped off, and the weight 95 can be removed. The upper standard section 52 can be lifted away. The pipe section 50-can be lifted away and the strut member 66 can be arranged along side it or taken off as desired. By loosening the hand wheels 47 near the bottom of Fig. 1 the bracing supports 46 can be withdrawn and the pipe section 43 can be lifted away from section 42, and the latter then lifted away from the base, or section 42 can be telescoped within section 43. The base can then be collapsed into the form shown by Fig. 2. The microphone can be lifted away bodily at any time.

According to the device shown the operator of the microphone may be rearward of, and is usually also a little to one side of the picture camera or cameras taking the scene, and may always be'in an out-of-the-way position with respect to the camera men and their equipment,'while. having apparently all of the control desired for rapidly .and quietly moving the microphone closer to or farther from the source of sound to be recorded as occasion suggests and from place to place horizontally as the actors move about or from one speaking character to another.

The device and method herein disclosed have gone into extensive use and have been found highly efiicient and valuable in sound recording in connection with motion picture work.-

I contemplate as being included in these improvements all such changes, variations and departures from what is thus specifically illustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 4

I claim: 1

1. The method of collecting sound with a sound-translating device from a given setting where the sounds to be translated emanate in'close succession from various sources located at different portions of the setting, which consists in moving the sound-translatingdevice back and forth and about in a succession of movements from one portion of the setting to another where the sound to be collected is successively about to emanate and 5 immediately before the emission of the sound to be collected, while maintainingthe translating device, during the collecting, substantially close to the sources respectively where the sound to be collected emanates.

3o 2. In sound recording synchronized with motion pictures taken by a camera from a setting in which the sound to be recorded emanates successively from difierent portions of the setting, the combination with a sound 35 translating device of means ior moving same easily and freely about the setting and successively into close proximity with and above the source of sound to be recorded while maintaining the translating device out of the range 20 of the camera taking the motion pictures.

- EDMUND H. HANSEN. 

